Chatty Camera

As a cinematographer, I really enjoyed watching John Fauer's film, Cinematographer Style, but I was also a little bit embarrassed. The feature length film is a series of talking head interviews (sound bites, really) with famous DP's. I love to hear these guys talk but I was uncomfortable with what I was learning, which is that cinematographers like to talk about themselves and their work. There's no greater proof of that than the fact that the director of this yak-fest is also a DP, who includes himself as a talking head, too.

I think Cinematographer Style has trouble knowing who its audience is. It was made by three companies who depend on celluloid image acquisition so, to an extent, it's corporate propaganda. But to whom? -the DP's appearing in the film? (Is that why there is 110(!) interview subjects? -Shoah, for its nine hours, needed only 33.)

We don't really get to see the work of these venerable cinematographers because there are no clips from their films. In that sense Cinematographer Style doesn't at all achieve a very good use of the film medium. As nothing but a series of interviews, it doesn't really go any further than the plethora of books that are nothing but interviews with cinematographers. (I own and love at least 7 such books.)

The film is sort of a vanity film and soapbox for the field of cinematography. For example, digital intermediates are discussed as places where a cinematographer could lose control over the image. While traditionally DP's play a great role in creating the look of a film, we're not the only ones who can craft an excellent image. The world is filled with brilliant designers. We collaborate with art directors and camera operators, so in the case of post staff messing with our pictures, we just have to hope that we can work with good people.

Post production happens.

Anybody else see this movie? Whatcha' think of that music?

ps - There was a lot I liked about this movie, too, and maybe I'll post about that later on.